Explore the Outdoors!
Bacteria and fungi are called decomposers because they break down dead organic material into simple chemical nutrients, like carbon and nitrogen compounds, that can be used by plants and algae. Being the most abundant decomposers on earth, bacteria and fungi play an extremely important role in the recycling of nutrients in ecosystems. They are present…
Groundhogs are a common sight in many backyards across North America. These furry creatures may look cute and cuddly, but they can be a nuisance when they start digging up your garden! Groundhogs are herbivores and eat grasses and vegetables and fruits most of the time. However, they may eat insects, nuts, and mushrooms from…
Most bacteria get their nutrients by breaking down organic matter from things that were alive at some point, which classifies them as heterotrophs. This includes the bacteria in the soil and those that make us sick. This is effectively classifying most bacteria consumers or decomposers. And these bacteria are immensely important for our ecosystems. Other…
Octopuses are members of the mollusk group which includes creatures like snails, mussels, and squids. Octopuses breathe underwater through a set of internal gills which extract oxygen from the water as they do not have lungs to breathe air. An octopus uses its gills to breathe like other sea creatures, it cannot breathe air. If…
Gophers are mostly herbivores and feed on a range of plant materials, and their love for roots can cause damage to garden plants like trees, flowers, vegetables, and shrubs. Gophers are burrowing rodents that live in tunnels in the ground. They create these tunnels by moving through the soil with their teeth and chiseling it…
Squids are deep-sea animals. They spend their whole life underwater and are not able to survive on land. This is primarily because they cannot breathe (or walk!) on land. Squids use gills to breathe like fish and other sea creatures. It is the most common way for water-breathing creatures to get oxygen from the water…
Robins are a type of bird that is found in North America. They are brown and red or orange in chest color and have a white belly. Their beak is short and their body is rounded. For a backyard bird, the robin is medium in size (bigger than sparrows but smaller than crows) and they…
Monkeys in the wild like to eat fruits but do not normally encounter candy. However, they would eat it if they had a chance, but it is not good for them. They do like chocolate (or cocoa fruits in the wild) and it has the same effects, including that of caffeine and sugar, on monkeys…
Rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus moluccanus), also known in daily jargon as “Loris”, are parrot species that reside in Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong. They have a very colorful appearance and can be found both in the wild and as pets. Rainbow lorikeets that live in the wild have a specific diet of nectar and pollen…
The babies of the American Goldfinch are referred to as nestlings. At this stage in life, the little ones are still very much dependent on their mother for survival. As far as diet goes, food will be brought to them by both parents. This diet of baby Goldfinches consists mainly of softer insects like worms…